ESPN: Vinicius' contract renewal prospects take a turn after Alonso's dismissal

According to ESPN, with Xabi Alonso's departure, Vinícius Jr.'s contract renewal negotiations with Real Madrid have taken a positive turn; however, disagreements over salary and bonus structure remain the core obstacle to reaching an agreement.

Multiple sources confirmed to ESPN that Xabi Alonso’s exit as Real Madrid head coach has directly altered the overall landscape of Vinícius’s renewal talks. During Alonso’s tenure, he was viewed as one of the main factors hindering an agreement on a new contract. Vinícius’s current deal runs until June 2027, and negotiations have been stalled since May 2025. Alonso left his post on Monday following Real Madrid’s loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, where mounting pressure finally came to a head. Subsequently, Álvaro Arbeloa was appointed as the new head coach.

A source familiar with the situation told ESPN that if Alonso had remained in charge, the likelihood of a renewal was previously considered “almost nonexistent.” Since taking over, Arbeloa has spoken positively about Vinícius and praised his willingness to play in the Copa del Rey away match against Albacete, when several key players were rested. Nevertheless, despite the coaching change creating a new opportunity, substantive hurdles remain in the negotiations. Sources indicate a significant gap persists between Vinícius’s salary expectations and the offer the club is prepared to accept.

Currently, Vinícius earns approximately €17 million per year after taxes. According to insiders, during their last meeting in May 2025, Real Madrid offered the player a deal worth around €20 million annually after taxes. Talks subsequently stalled because Vinícius demanded an additional €10 million in performance-based bonuses as a condition for signing.

ESPN previously reported that people close to Vinícius believed negotiations might not resume until after the 2026 summer World Cup, meaning the player would enter the final year of his contract. However, sources now say that with Alonso’s departure, the situation has shifted, and the La Liga club is expected to re-engage with the player’s representatives soon to restart talks.

Vinícius’s camp believes Real Madrid is nearing its wage cap and thus unlikely to increase its offer beyond the proposed €20 million net annual salary. However, they also note that there is still room for flexibility in the bonus structure—similar to the approach used previously to facilitate Kylian Mbappé’s move from Paris Saint-Germain. Multiple sources agree that Alonso gradually became a negative factor in the renewal talks, primarily due to his managerial decisions.

Under Carlo Ancelotti, Alonso’s predecessor, Vinícius was an undisputed starter. But tensions emerged immediately after Alonso took over last summer. ESPN previously revealed that Alonso had originally planned to bench Vinícius in the Club World Cup semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain, only changing his mind after Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a pre-match injury and inserting Vinícius into the lineup. During Alonso’s tenure, Vinícius played in 33 matches but completed only nine full games, four of which he started from the bench.

The most notable friction between the two occurred during last October’s El Clásico. Real Madrid won 2-1 at the Bernabéu, but Vinícius expressed strong dissatisfaction after being substituted in the second half. Post-match, he issued a public apology on social media, though he did not directly reference the head coach. Sources said that in the weeks that followed, although Alonso publicly expressed support and showed gestures of goodwill—such as sideline hugs—their relationship remained strictly professional and restrained.

After Alonso’s dismissal, Vinícius was one of the few players who did not post a farewell message on social media. This season, Vinícius has shown inconsistent form, contributing six goals and seven assists in appearances for Real Madrid.